BYD's premium Denza brand is preparing to open pre-orders for the N8 EV, a large five-seat electric SUV that carries a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) range rating of more than 623 miles (1,000 km). Denza General Manager Li Hui announced on Weibo on October 22 that reservations will start on October 26, with the official launch to follow in November.
The N8 first went on sale in China in 2023 as a mid-to-large luxury SUV offered as a plug-in hybrid in six- and seven-seat layouts. The new electric version is billed as matching the combined electric and gasoline range of that earlier model, but on battery power alone.
Denza describes the vehicle as "the king of large 5-seater pure electric vehicles." It uses BYD's second-generation Blade Battery and the company's Flash Charging technology. Under CLTC conditions, Denza claims a pure electric range of 1,003 km, which it calls world-leading.
BYD says its 1,500 kW Flash Charging system can take compatible vehicles from 10% to 70% in five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes.
According to a filing made public in August by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the N8 EV measures 5,150 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width and 1,820 mm in height, on a 3,075 mm wheelbase. It carries a 130.15 kWh battery, which provides the CLTC range of up to 623 miles.
Buyers will be able to choose between a single-motor rear-wheel-drive setup and a tri-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain. The rear-wheel-drive motor produces either 320 kW (429 hp) or 370 kW (496 hp). The all-wheel-drive version is built on BYD's e3 platform and pairs a 270 kW (362 hp) front motor with two 310 kW (416 hp) rear motors, for a combined 890 kW (1,193 hp).
Inside, the SUV has a minimalist cabin with two large displays: a 30-inch center infotainment screen that stretches across nearly the whole passenger side of the dashboard, and a 43-inch panoramic head-up display beneath the windshield. Other features include ambient lighting, a three-spoke steering wheel and higher-end materials. Images published by Autohome show an undisguised N8 EV on public roads in China, with roof-mounted LiDAR.
The announcement follows last month's launch of the Denza N8L EV, a slightly longer six-seat electric variant of the current plug-in hybrid. The N8L EV Premium starts at 299,800 yuan (about $45,000), and the Flagship starts at 329,800 yuan ($49,000). Both use a 130.15 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 rated for up to 596 miles (960 km) on the CLTC cycle. The N8L measures 5,200 mm long, 1,999 mm wide and 1,820 mm high, with the same 3,075 mm wheelbase, and includes a 208-liter front trunk.
Pricing and further details for the five-seat N8 EV have not yet been announced.
